Cornet was bidding to become the eighth woman to sweep the Williams sisters at the same tournament after stunning Serena in the semifinals.

Things looked good early for the Frenchwoman as a break gave her a 2-1 lead, but Venus dropped only one more game on the hardcourts at Dubai Tennis Stadium.

The 33-year-old American has won 15 straight matches in Dubai and joined Justine Henin as the only players to win at least three Dubai titles, adding to her triumphs in 2009 and 2010. Henin won the crown four times in a five- year span (2003-04 and 2006-07).

Venus, who entered the tournament as a wild card, captured her 45th career title and her first since prevailing in a small event in Luxembourg in 2012.